Shloka 2

Saṃnyāsa-dharma — Qualifications, Threefold Renunciation, and the Conduct of the Yati

Devanagari script

अग्नीनात्मनी संस्थाप्य द्विजः प्रव्रजितो भवेत् / योगाभ्यासरतः शान्तो ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः

Transliteration

agnīnātmanī saṃsthāpya dvijaḥ pravrajito bhavet / yogābhyāsarataḥ śānto brahmavidyāparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er die heiligen Feuer in seinem eigenen Ātman innerlich gegründet hat, soll der Zweimalgeborene zum entsagenden Wandermönch (pravrajita) werden: der Yoga-Übung hingegeben, im Geist befriedet und ganz auf die Brahman-Erkenntnis (brahma-vidyā) ausgerichtet.

Word by Word

• अग्नीन्: fires
• अग्नीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनम्

• आत्मनि: in oneself
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचनम्

• संस्थाप्य: having established
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययम् (gerund): having स्थापित/placed (having established)

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्

• प्रव्रजितः: gone forth (as a renunciate)
• प्रव्रजितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√व्रज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकाले; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; संज्ञा/विशेषणम् (gone forth, renounced)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

• योग-अभ्यास-रतः: devoted to yoga practice
• योग-अभ्यास-रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग + अभ्यास + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; योगाभ्यासे रतः (devoted to practice of yoga)

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्

• ब्रह्म-विद्या-परायणः: devoted to knowledge of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-विद्या-परायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विद्या + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; ब्रह्मविद्यायां परायणः (wholly devoted to Brahma-knowledge)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and renunciation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Brahman
• Atman
• Agni
• Dvija
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Atman as the true locus of sacred worship: the external Vedic fires are internalized, implying that realization of the Self/Brahman is the highest sacrifice and the foundation of liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes sustained yoga-abhyāsa (disciplined practice) leading to śānti (mental tranquility), and it frames renunciation as a life centered on meditation and brahma-vidyā—contemplative knowledge of ultimate reality.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

While not naming Shiva directly, its teaching reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the inner sacrifice, Yoga, and Brahman-knowledge align with both Shaiva (yogic/ascetic) and Vaishnava (Lord Kurma’s instruction) streams, pointing to a shared non-sectarian goal of realization.